Roztocze is my favourite region to go and rest. I've been going there for many years. Woods and meadows, fields and streams, small villages and old wooden churches.
Come and see. Fall in love, like I did.

Roztocze (Ukrainian Розточчя) is a range of hills in east-central Poland and western Ukraine which rises from the Lublin Upland and extends southeastward across the border into Ukraine. Low and rolling, the range is approximately 180 km long and 14 km wide. It's highest peak within Poland is Wielki Dzial; at 390 meters, while in Ukraine it is Vysokyi Zamok (High Castle) at 409 m. In Poland Roztocze is situated in the Lubelskie and Podkarpackie voivodships. The cities and towns of the region include: Krasnik, Szczebrzeszyn, Zwierzyniec, Krasnobrod, Jozefow, Tomaszow Lubelski, Narol, Bilgoraj , Hrubieszow, Zamosc, Lubaczow, Janow Lubelski. In Ukraine Roztocze extends all the way to the outskirts of Lviv. Other cities and towns of the region include: Nemyriv, Zhovkva, Rava Ruska, Yavoriv. For the Ukrainian galleries please look at: http://www.pbase.com/jolka/western_ukraine

The history of this area is closely connected with the Zamoyski family estate, which was founded in 1589. The Estate's headquarters were placed at Zwierzyniec. Roztocze land witnessed numerous battles during the Polish January Uprising and both World Wars. Tragic reminiscences of these times are numerous cemeteries. Fans of military history can see the system of fortifications (so-called Molotov line). These are about 90 Soviet bunkers which were built during 1940-41 on the demarcation line between Soviet and German control.

The whole region is very special from cultural and historical perspective due to the very unique combination of Ukrainians, Poles and Jewish heritage. Original old town in Zamosc - a unique example of a pure Renaissance city layout and architecture, multicultural Lviv, numerous wooden Catholic and Greek-Catholic churches and monasteries, chapels and old graveyards. The traces of the centuries-old presence of Jews can be seen in the form of synagogues (Szczebrzeszyn, Tarnogrod, Modliborzyce, Jozefow, Cieszanow, Wielkie Oczy, Zamosc) and several Jewish cemeteries, give us insights into the rich history and culture of the Roztocze region.

Every thumbnail opens into a separate gallery dedicated to one town or village.